Isn’t it amazing the things that blinds us and cause us to miss out on God’s goodness? I now know how John Newton felt when he penned this well-loved song, ‘Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me’. It was his encounter with God that opened his eyes, like so many of us have experienced. No tongue can tell, no heart can show, the goodness of God’s love; we cannot find words adequate enough, to describe how blind we were, until God revealed his love for us, in wonderous ways. I thought I was living a good life, but since God moved me from walking in darkness into his marvelous light; I am living my best life now, and I owe it all to the glory of God.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, when we are changed others know us by our fruits. We are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Lord, I want the change you have created in me to spread like wildfire and cause a chain-reaction.

“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart! I have light in my soul for which long I had sought, since Jesus came into my heart! I have ceased from my wand’ring and going astray, since Jesus came into my heart! And my sins which were many are all washed away, because Jesus came into my heart!” That’s why I can’t give up, I must keep on keeping on. Thank you, Lord!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, self-reflection could and will bring about life-giving changes. The Lenten Season is a season of repentance, which calls for deep reflection. We need to take an honest look at ourselves, where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and fall prostrate before God, asking him to be merciful to us, and forgive us, and to create in us clean hearts to serve him.

My grandmother was so full of wisdom. God rest her soul. I remember how she would in a round about way, encourage me to change. She would say to me, ‘You are on a long rope, and when God is ready for you, he is going to pull you back.’ She was so right way back when. Because it was not adversity that brought me to Jesus, Jesus called me, when he was ready to use me in his service. Praise the Lord.

“Like the woman at the well, I was seeking, for things that could not satisfy, and then I heard my Savior speaking, ‘Draw from My well that never shall run dry’. Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more, fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. There are millions in this world who are seeking, for pleasures earthly goods afford. But none can match the wondrous treasure, that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. So my brother if the things that this world gives you, leave hungers that won’t pass away, my blessed Lord will come and save you, if you kneel to Him and humbly pray. Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more, fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.”

For many years, I was walking in my own willful way, but when I made the decision to walk with God, it was not easy; because it was easy to walk in my own willful way, but it is not easy to walk in God’s way, but it gets easier, and I always tell people, if I knew then, what I know now, I would have be serving God a long time ago. My brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter where you in your life, God can still use you in his service, all you need to do, is to just make a commitment to doing things God’s way moving forward, and watch him work his purpose out. He did it for me and he will do it for you. Praise the Lord!

Most times, God’s call to move us out of our comfort zones is not easy. But, when we are called by God, his call also comes with an assurance, that, he will not allow us to go it alone. Many times, the task seems daunting, the pathway crooked, the way dark, and just seems impossible; and we question God every step of the way. But my brothers and sisters in Christ, we are reminded in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me? I know now without a doubt, that God will not call us to do something that he has not already equipped us for. Our God knows the beginning and the end, we just need to trust him, to move us out of our comfort zones to do his will. God may be calling you right now, learn to discern his call. We are reminded in Proverbs chapter three, that we should trust in the Lord with all our heart, and to lean not to our own understanding, but to in all our ways acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths.

Many of us at different periods in the year, stop and take a good look at ourselves, to really determine how spiritually healthy we are. This season of Lent is a wonderful opportunity, for us to reflect on how much we have grown in our walk with God. It’s a time when we could really be honest with ourselves, to know if we are still in love with God, as when we first got saved. This is a great yard stick, as we should always aspire to be on fire for God, doing those things that please him. Every day, we have opportunities to grow in our walk with God, but too many of us got saved, and stayed save. We are afraid to venture out of our comfort zones, fearing the challenges that may be experienced, but my brothers and sisters in Christ, if we are not challenged as Christians, we will not grow in our faith. May God grant each one of us the courage we need, to grow in our daily walk with him.

O God, whose glory it is to always have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts, and steadfast faith, to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reins, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (BCP)